Machine



C. G..TIEFEL.

CHECK WRITING MACHINE.

APPUCATION FILED SEPT 23. I918- 1 350,428, Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

3 SHEEISSHEET I.

INVENTOR '4 zmfisa 71am- ATTORNEY c. G. TIEFEL.

CHECK WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED SEPTv 23. l9l8.

' Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEE] 2.

ME m 5 A TTORNEY C. G. TIEFEL.

CHECK WRITING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 23. 1918.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

N TOR lNl/E LHARLE'EEZYVEFEL.

UNITED STATES Ragnar OFFICE- CHARLES GgTIEFEL, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK,ASSIGNOR TO TODD PROTECTOGRAPI-I COMPANY, INC., O1?"R0CHESTER, NEW YORK,A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

GHEGK-WRITIN G MAGI-IINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 24, 1920.

I Application filed September 23, 1918. Serial No. 255,274;

To all whom z'tmay concern:

Be it known that I, GiiAnLiis G. Tmrnn, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of the city of Rochester, in the county of,Monroe and State of New York have invented certain new and usefulTmprovements in Check- Writing Machines;

and Thereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same;

The broad object of the invention is to provide a small, compact machinewhich, while it will perform most of the functions of such machines nowon the market, can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an improvedmechanism for va riably feeding. the work in machines which areconstructed to print words or other designations Varying in length.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type inkingmechanism comprising an ink applying roller or corresponding device andmeans whereby the supply of ink therefor may be controlled anddistributed.

Still another object of the invention isto provide an improved mechanismfor securing correct alinement of a type support with a platen.

\Vith these and incidental objects in view the invention consists in thenovel construc tion and arrangement of parts the essential elementsof-which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form ofembodiment of which is hereinafter described with referencc to thedrawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification.

Of said drawings:

' l igure 1 is a front view of the assembled machine.

Fig. 2 isaright side View of the assembled machine.

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section through the machine and showsparticularly features l ig. 5 IS a partial top plan view of the machinewith the casing cut away.

Fig. is a vertical section on the line (1 1g. 7 w th some of the partsproecting and others broken away to expose parts behind them to view. a

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section on the line 7-7 (Fig.6).

. receiving slot 22. The portions 20 and 21 of the casing cover andprovide supports for the different parts of mechanism hereinafterdescribed.

Rigid with a shaft 23 journaled in the portion 21 of the casing is atype wheel or drum 24 with type forms 25 on its periphery. Each of thesetype forms is to print a separate word of group of characters.

They extend in the direction of the axis of the drum 2 l'and vary inlength according to the words they are to print. For example the typeform for printing the word One is considerably shorter than. the typeform for printing such words as Seventeen and Eighteen.

'Fastened to the left hand end of the shaft 23 is a knob 26 by means ofwhich the shaft and drum 241 may be rotated to different positions.Rigid with the. knob 26 and type drum 24L is an indicator 27 bearingindicia representing the different type forms. Fastened to the casing isan index 28 to guide the operator. The arrangement is such that when thetype drum 24: has been adjusted to position the desired type formopposite an impression bar or platen 31 the corresponding character onthe indicator 27 will be opposite the index 28. 7

The impression bar or platen 31 is long enough to cooperate with all ofthe type lines regardless of the differences in length and it and thetype may be constructed in accordance with Patent 7 93,249 issued toLibanus M. Todd, June 27, 1905, so that the fibers of the paper or othermaterial printed upon will be disrupted and thereby rendered morecapable of absorbing ink taken from the type. The platen 31 isadjustably mounted in a bar 32 extending transversely of a lever 33fastened on a shaft 34 pivoted at its ends in the side walls of the base20. A spring 35 wound around the shaft 3 2 has one end extending througha hole (not shown) in the shaft and its other or free end coperatingwith a lug 36 attached to or integral with the base 20. At its rear end,the lever 33 is slotted as shown at 11, Fig. 7 to receive the lower endof a link 42. The lever 33 and the link 12 are connected by pivot pin43. Fastened to a rock shaft 4% is a casting slotted as indicated at 46,Figs. l and 5 to form a pair of arms at opposite sides of the upper endof the link 42. A pin 4-7 extending through the arms and the link formsa connection whereby movement of the rock shaft 44 is transmittedthrough the link 42 to the lever 43 in such a way as to move the platen31 in and out of printing relation with the type forms on the drum Therock shaft 44 may be given its rocking movement by means of a handle 51fastened to the right hand end of the shaft. The spring 35, previouslymentioned, is at all times under considerable tension and normally holdsthe platen and parts associated therewith in the positions shown in thedrawings. In this position an adjusting screw 52 (Fig. 7) in an arm 53integral with the platen lever 33 is in contact with a suitableextension or boss 5a on the machine base. When the operating handle 51is drawn forward the rock shaft will be moved counterclockwise, Fig. 4,to an extent limited by an adjusting screw 55 engaging the rear wall ofthe casing. The screw 55 extends through an arm 56 integral with thecasting d5, previously described as being fastened to the rock shaft A.It is clear, therefore, that by changing the setting of the adjustingscrew 55, the extent of the upward 'movement of the platen 31 andthereby the amount of impression may be regulated.

Ink is applied directly to the type forms by rolls 61 and 62. The roll61 is rotatable on a rod 63 supported at its ends in the side arms 64 ofa yoke loosely suspended from a rod 65. Mounted on the rod 65 is aspring 66 which tends at all times to hold the roll 61 in contact withthe type forms 25 so that during rotation of the drum the type will beinked.

The roll 62 applies ink to the type in the same way, that is, by beingheld in contact with the type forms and applying ink to the type as thedrum 24 is rotated. The roll .ment of the plate 73 by the spring islimited by engagement of an extension 81 of the plate with a rod 32.

Projecting from the plate 73 is a stud 83 upon which is rotatablymounted an ink roll 64. The ink roll 84 is to receive the fresh suppliesof ink and for that purpose, the top of the casing is provided with adoor 35 hinged on the rod 82. The ink supply roller 34 is normally outof contact with the ink supplying roller 62 but may be moved intoengagement therewith whenever a desired by raising the door 85 farenough to carry a downwardly extending flange 86 at the rear of the dooragainst the upper edge of the extension 81 of the plate 73, therebyrocking the plate 73 on the rod 72 and pressing the roll 84 against theroll 62. If desired, the door 85 may be held open with the rolls 3% andin contact and the type drum rotated by means of the knob 26 therebydriving the roller 62 and causing its entire surface to receive ink fromthe supply roll 8 1.

As previously stated, the type forms 25 are of different lengths. Inorder to give maximum protection and at the same time print in such away that amounts may be easily read, it is desirable that the paper ormaterial printed upon be fed distances varying according to the lengthsof the words printed. The mechanism for feeding the work comprises apair of wheels 91 rigidly connected by a sleeve 92 fastened to a shaft93.

The shaft 93 is j ournaled at its forward end in a lug 9% formed on themachine base and is rotatably supported at its other end by the wall ofthe casing. The wheels 91 may be knurled or otherwise roughened to givea good gripping surface.

Coiiperating with the wheels 91 are small wheels 95 rigid together androtatable upon a pin 96 mounter. i the end portions of a hood 97. Thehood 97 is integral with arms 93 (Fig. 12) pivoted at 99 to lugs 100 ona plate 101 attached to t 1e side of the machine casing. Resting uponthe inner ends of the arms 93 is a plate 102 provided with a slot 103(Fig. 6) surrounding the shaft 23. Resting against the upper end of theplate 102 is the under side of a lever 104 pivoted at 105 to the machinecasing and extending forward through an opening in the casing. A spring106 tends at all times to hold the wheels 95 in contact with the wheels91, but,

when it is desired to insert the work, the wheels 95 may be raised outof engagement with the wheels 91 by pressing down upon a finger piece107 attached to the forward end of the lever 104 thereby thrusting theplate 102 down and lifting the rollers 95 far enough to permit insertionof the work.

The work is advanced between imprints by rotating the shaft 93 variabledistances depending upon the lengths of the words printed. Rotativemovement is imparted to the shaft 93 by the teeth 111 of a rack 112, theteeth 111 meshing with the teeth of a gear 113 loose on the shaft 93 butrigid with a disk 114. The disk 114 carries a spring actuated pawl 115cooperating with the teeth of an internal ratchet 116 in a member 117fastened to the shaft 93. The pawl 115 cooperates with the ratchet 116in such a way that movement of the rack 112 in one direction will causethe'pawl to ride idly over the teeth of the ratchet 116 and movement ofthe rack in the opposite direction will drive the member 117 and shaft93 to rotate the wheels 91 and feed the work. The external periphery ofthe member 117 is provided with ratchet teeth cooperating with a springpressed pawl 118 (Fig. 7) to prevent backward rotation'of the shaft.

Movement is imparted to the rack 112 and the extent of movement iscontrolled by devices on the main operating shaft 44 and adifferentially stepped plate 121 rigid with the type drum 24. The plate1 1 is so ar ranged that when the type form to print a certain word isopposite the impression bar 31, the plate 121 will be set with acorresponding shoulder to limit the feed a corre- 81:)Ol1tlll1g extent.

The rack 112 has a series of teeth 122 engaging an operating member inthe form of a gear sector 123 loose on the main operating shaft 44, theteeth. 122 being held in engagement with the gear sector by a flange1.25 (Fig. 6) formed on a mounting plate 126 to engage and guide therack. Also meshing with the teeth of the gear sector are teeth 127 on aseparate rack 128 slidablo in a guide 129 formed on the mounting plate126. Secured to the rack 128 is a plate 131 having a finger 132 slidablymounted at its forward end in a support 133 formed on the mounting plate126.

Secured to the main operating shaft 44 is a hub 134 rigid with an arm135. Formed on the sertor gear 123 is an extension 136 and wound aroundthe hub 134 is a torsion spring 137' (see also Fig. 6), the ends ofwhich engage lugs 138 and 139 formed respectively on the arm 135 and'theextension 136 of the gear sector 123. The tension of the spring 137tends at all times to rotate the gear sector 123 and arm 135 in oppositedirections but such movement is normally limited by engagement of a lug141 projecting laterally from the gear sector element with the upperedge of the arm 135. The spring 137 is strong enough to hold the lug 141against the arm 135 during rocking movement of the shaft 44 until theforward end of the finger 132 moving with the rack 128 is stopped by oneof the shoulders on the differentially stepped plate 121. When thefinger engages a step further movement of the sector gear 123 isprevented but movement of the shaft 44 and arm 135 relative to thesector gear is permitted by the spring 137.

During movement of the rack 128 and finger 132 to engage the latter withone of the steps on the plate 121, the rack 112 will be raised and thepawl carrying disk 114 ro tated to carry the pawl 115 idly over theteeth of the internal ratchet 116. -During the fore part of the returnmovement of the operating shaft 44 the gear sector 123 will remainstationary until the arm 135 engages the lug 141, whereupon the rack 112will be thrust downward to its starting point and cause the pawl 115 todrive the work feeding shaft 93. At the same time, the rack '128 will bedrawn rearward to its normal position, that is, the position in which itis shown in Fig. 6.

The finger 132 not only cooperates with the differentially stepped plate121 to determine the length of the feed but it also serves first toaline the type drum with the impression platen and then lock the drumagainst movement until after the printing impression is completed. Forthis purpose, there is provided a series of shoulders 142 (Fig. 6)projecting laterally from the right end of the type drum 24 into theplane of movement of the finger 132. These shoulders are beveled so thatif the type drum 24 should be slightly out of correct position forprinting, forward movement of the finger 132 will correct the adjustmentbefore the printing platen engages the type. Further movement of thefinger 132 carries it between the adjacent shoulders 142 and, it isapparent, prevents rotation of the type drum until the finger 132 isreturned to substantially its home or starting position.

In order to provide a means whereby in assembling the alinement of thetype drum 24 may be regulated to accurately position the type facesopposite the impression platen 31, the mounting plate 126 is adjustableabout the shaft 44 on which it is loosely mounted. As shown in Fig. 6,the mounting plate is provided with a slot surrounding the shaft of abolt 143. This slot and bolt provides a means whereby the forward end ofthe finger 132 may be raised and lowered and the mounting plate thenfastened so that the finger cooperating with the beveled shoulder 142will turn the type drum slightly in the proper direction to give correctalinement of the type and platen.

In machines of the kind herein described, it is important that theimpression platen 31 be raised firmly into engagement with the type formin printing. This means that the operating shaft 4P1 should be given aninvariable extent of movement at each and every operation. It is alsoimportant that the operating shaft be given such a movement because ofthe fact that if a partial movement of the shaft was possible, theoperator might accidentally cause a partial feed of the paper andthereby leave a gap between words which could be filled in "to alter thevalue of the document. In order to insure such invariable movement ofthe rock shaft 4 1, a full stroke device is employed which is soconstructed that it compels full movement of the shaft 14 in onedirection before mov ment of the shaft in the opposite direction ispossible.

This full stroke device mentioned comprises a segmental toothed ratchetplate 145 rigid on the shaft 4%. Rigid with the toothed segment 145 andshaft 1 1 is a hub 1-1-6 with oppositely extending portions 147,

each carrying an adjustable screw 148.

These screws cooperate with a portion 149 formed at right angles to aplate 150 pivoted at 151. At its forward end and formed at right anglesto the plate is a tooth 152, Fig. 11, engaging a spring pressed ball 153carried by a cap 15% adjustably mounted in the side wall of the portion21 of the casing. Adjacent the plate 150 and loose on the pivot 151 aretwo pawls 156 and 157 crossed in the manner of a pair of scissors andprovided respectively with lugs 161 and 162 normally held in engagementwith the edges of the plate 150 by a spring 163. The parts are soconstructed and arranged that when the point of one pawl is inengagement with the segmental ratchet plate 1&5 the point of the otherpawl is barely out of engagement with the teeth and it requires only aslight rocking movement on the pivot 151 to disengage one pawl andengage the other.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the rock shaft 4A isat its normal or home position ready for an operation. Such an operationwill involve first rocking the shaft in a counterclockwise direction,during which time the spring 153 will hold the nose of the pawl 156 inengagement with the teeth of the segment 1 15 and prevent retrogrademovement of the shaft. At the end of the movement in that direction theupper adjustable screw 148 will engage the top of the flat portion 149of the plate 150 and rock the plate 150 and pawls 156 and 157 on thepivot 151 thereby depressing the ball 153 until the tooth 152 passesover the top of the ball when the spring behind the ball will assist incompleting the move ment of the parts. When this movement has beencompleted, the point of the pawl 156 will have been disengaged from thetoothed segment 145 and the point of the pawl 157 moved into engagementso that during the return to the normal movement of the shaft, that is,the clockwise movement (Fig. the point of the pawl 157 will be effectiveto prevent retrograde movement of the shaft. Just as the shaft 1 reachesits normal position the lower adjustable screw 1 18 will swing the plate150 and pawls 156 and 157 back to the position in which they are shownin the figure last mentioned.

In describing the construction of the different features of themechanism, it has been necessary incidentally to describe the operationto such an extent that it is thought that the statement of operationusual at this point may be omitted.

While the construction herein shown and described is admirably adaptedto fulfil the objects hereinbefore stated, it is not the desire to belimited to the one embodiment as the invention is capable of variouschanges and modifications, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with aninvariably moved shaft and means for effecting said movements, of apaper feed actuating member on saidshaft, a spring transmittingmovements of the shaft to the member while permitting movement of theshaft relative to the member as the member is arrested, work feedingdevices connected for actuation by movements of the member, a printingcouple for printing words of different lengths and means for selectingthe words to be printed, and devices controlled by the selecting meansfor differentially limiting movements of the feed actuating member.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with aninvariably moved rock shaft and means for rocking same, of an operatingmember journaled on the shaft, a torsion spring connecting the memberand the shaft and transmitting movements of the shaft to the memberuntil the member is arrested while permitting movement of the shaftrelative to the member after movement of the member is arrested, workfeeding devices operatively connected to said member, a printing couplefor printing words of different lengths, manipulative devices fordetermining the word to be printed, and means controlled by saidmanipulative devices for arresting movement of the operating member atdifferent points in the movement of the rock shaft.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with aninvariably moved rock shaft and means for rocking same, of a toothedoperating member journaled on the shaft, a torsion spring connecting themember and the shaft and normally transmitting movements of the shaft tothe member when the shaft is rocked in one direction, work feedingdevices geared to said operating member, a printing couple forselectively printing words of different lengths, and means controlled bysaid couple for arresting movement of the operating member at differentpoints in the movement of the rock shaft.

4:. In a machine of the class described, the combination with aninvariably moved rock shaft and means for rocking same, of a gearsegment journaled on the shaft, a torsion spring connecting the segmentand the shaft and normally transmitting movements of the shaft to thesegment when the shaft is rocked in one direction, work feedingmechanism geared to the gear segment, a plunger finger driven by thesegment, a printing couple for printing words of different lengths,manipulative devices for determining the word to be printed, and adifferentially stepped plate adjustable by said manipulative devices toposition different steps in the path of the finger whereby to limitdifferentially the movement of the gear segment and work feedingdevices.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rockshaft andmeans for rocking same, of a gear sector loose on the shaft, aspring for transmitting. movements of the shaft to the gear sector, arack geared to the gear sector, work feeding devices driven by saidrack, a type carrier and platen for printing words of different lengths,and means controlled by said type carrier for arresting movement of thegear sector at different points in the movement of the operating shaft.

6. The combination with a rock shaft and means for rocking same, of agear'sector journaled on the shaft, a spring normally transmittingmovements of the shaft in one direction to the gear sector by permittingmovement of the shaft relative to the sector, a work feeding rack gearedto the sector 'and work feeding devices driven by said rack, a plungerbearing. rack geared to the gear sector, a type carrier constructed toprint words of different lengths, and a differentially stepped plateadjustable under control of the type carrier and in the path of theplunger rack to differentially limit movement of the gear sector andthereby determine the extent of movement of the work feeding rack.

7. The combination with an invariably movable operating shaft and meansfor moving same, of a toothed operating member, means for yieldinglytransmitting movements of the operating shaft to said member, a rackgeared tothe operating member, work feeding devices permanentlyconnected to and driven by said rack, a type carrier carrying type forprinting words of different lengths, devices for setting the typecarrier according to the Word to be printed, and means controlled bysaid devices for controlling the extent of movement of the operatingmember and work feeding devices.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a rockshaft and means for rocking same, of an operating member journaled onthe shaft, means for yieldingly transmitting movements of the rock shaftto the operating member, a rack reciprocated by movements of theoperating member and work feeding devices driven in one direction bysaid rack, a type carrier provided with type to print words of differentlengths, and means controlled by said carrier for differ entiallyarresting movements of the operating member to determine the extent ofmovement to be given the work by the work feeding devices.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with. aplurality of type forms for printing words of different lengths andmeans for selectively printing from said type forms, said meansincluding an invariably moved operating shaft and means for operatingsame; of a toothed operating member loose on the shaft; means yieldinglytransmitting movements of the operating shaft to the member; anadjustable differentially stepped plate to correspond to the lengths ofthe various type formsp work feeding devices; a rack driven by theoperating member to actuate the feeding devices; a second rack driven bythe operating member and a finger carried by said second raclr tocooperate with the differentially stepped plate.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with. a typecarrier; of type forms thereon for printing words of different lengths;means for selectively printing from said type forms, said meanscomprising a rock shaft and means for rocking same; a gear sectorjournaled on the shaft; a torsion spring connecting the sector and theshaft and normally transmitting movements of the shaft to the member; arack driven by the gear sector; work feeding devices actuated by therack; a differentially stepped plate adjustable according to the lengthsof the words to be printed and a second rack driven by the gear sectorto extents determined by the differentially stepped plate and therebydetermining the extent of the work feed.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a printingcouple constructed to print words of different lengths and means fordetermining the words to be printed, of an invariably moved mainoperating shaft and means for moving same, a gear sector loose on theoperating shaft, a spring connecting the gear sector and shaft toyieldingly transmit movement of the shaft to the sector, work feedingdevices, a rack driven by the sector and connected to actuate thefeeding devices, a second rack driven by the sector and means controlledby the printing couple for stopping the second rack at different pointsin the movement of the operating shaft to determine the extent ofmovement of the work feeding devices.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with arotatable type carrier provided with type forms for printing words ofdifferent lengths and means for rotating the carrier to determine theword to be printed, a platen operable to take impressions from theselected type form, means comprising an invariably moved shaft foroperating the platen, a gear sector loose on the shaft, a resilientconnection for trans mitting movement of the shaft to the gear sector,work feeding devices driven by the sector, an element for determiningthe length of the feed driven by the gear sector, and a control memberrotatable with the type carrier and cooperating with said determiningelement.

l3. In a machine of the class described, the coniliiination with arotatable type carrier, of type forms on said carrier for printing wordsof different length, a platen, means for rotating the type carrier toset any desired type form opposite the platen, an ink applying roller incontact with the type carrier and rotated by rotation of the typecarrier, an ink supply roller normally out of engagement with the inkapplying roller, a casing, a door in said casing for gaining access tothe ink supply roller, and means whereby opening said door will move theink supply roller into contact with the ink applying roller wherebyrotation of the type carrier will drive both rollers to distribute theink.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination with anadjustable type carrier, of an ink applying roller in contact with thetype carrier, an ink supply roller, a support for said supply rollernormally holding said supply roller out of contact with the ink applyingroller, a casing, a door in said casing, and means whereby opening thedoor will move the support to carry the ink supply roller into contactwith the ink applying roller.

15. In a machine of the class described, the combination with aninvariably moved shaft and means for effecting said movements, of apaper feed actuating member on said shaft, a springrendered effective toactuate the member by movements of the shaft, work feeding devicesconnected for actuation by movements of the member, devices for printingwords of different lengths and means for selecting the words to beprinted, and devices controlled by said selecting means fordifferentially limiting movements of the feed actuating member.

16. In a machine of the class described, the combination with aninvariably moved shaft and means for effecting said movements, of apaper feed actuating member on said shaft, means for transmittingmovements of the shaft to said member while permitting movement of theshaft relative to the member if said member is arrested, work feedingdevices connected for actuationby movements of the member, devices forprinting words of different lengths and means for selecting the words tobe printed, and devires controlled by said selecting means fordifferentially limiting movements of the said actuating member.

17. In a. machine of the class described, the combination with a shafthaving a rocking movement of invariable extent and means for effectingsaid movements, of a paper feed actuating member on said shaft, meansfor transmitting movement of the shaft to said member while permittingmovement of the shaft relative to the member if said member is arrested,work feeding devices connected for actuation by movement of the memberin one direction, devices for printing'words of different lengths andmeans for selecting the words to be printed, and devices controlled bysaid selecting means for differentially limiting the movement of thefeed actuating member to determine the length the feed.

18. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a platen,of a type support provided with type forms to print words of differentlengths, said support being adjustable to set any desired form oppositethe platen, a paper feed control member adjustable to correspond withthe length of the type form opposite the platen, alining shoulders onthe type support, an element movable between said alining shoulders toaline the type support with the platen and hold it against movementduring printing, and a mounting for said element adjustable to regulatethe alinement of the type and platen.

19. In a'machine of the class described, the combination with a platen,of a type support adjustable to set any desired type opposite theplaten, alining shoulders on the type support, a pivoted mounting plateand means for holding it in different positions on its pivot, and anelement mounted for reciprocatory movement on said plate, cooperatingwith the alining shoulders on the I type support.

